Wednesday, 4 March 2009

Keep an eye (or an ear) out for...

A brilliant radio programme

Mentioned by Swiss in the comments for the last post - 'A Strong Song Tows Us' was written and presented by Lee Hall (Hall is most famous for his 'Billy Elliot' screenplay but he's worked on all kinds of projects). If you're interested in poetry at all go and have a listen. It focuses on poetry in the Newcastle area of England in the twentieth century but there are all kinds of other bits of information too. There are some great lines from poet Basil Bunting in it for a start...'every poet worth tuppence writes aloud'...Well, obviously!

The guests at our folk club in Montrose this Tuesday past. Made up of one Scot, one Norwegian and an Englishman they are a band who really make some beautiful sounds (mainly with voices, guitar, fiddle and whistles). Most of their songs are Norwegian but they also did a Robert Frost poem set to music and an Edwin Muir one too. Worth investigating.

Another night in Dundee

I've been asked to do some more compere/poetry work so at 7.30pm on Sunday 15th March you will find me at the Apex Hotel in Dundee presenting a fantastic line-up of musicians as part of a fundraising event for Medical Aid for Palestinians. The line-up includes Michael Marra, Sheena Wellington, Pauline Hynd, Loadsaweeminsingin and Buskers Against the Bomb. Tickets are £10 and on sale from Grouchos music store in Dundee.

And then back to Montrose

Two days later on Tuesday 17th March the marvellous Heidi Talbot, John McCusker and Boo Hewerdine will be folk club guests at the Links Hotel, Montrose (8pm). Tickets £8. Simply unmissable, I don't care where you live!

Now it's back to making the tea and sorting out fancy dress for Small Girl's World Book Day at school tomorrow. Boy, does she like to dress up!x

Thanks, Liz. Plenty of everyday crap to keep me down to earth though too!

I enjoyed your Wrong Miracle post today by the way. It reminded me of what I was up to about this time last year...and then that made me pick my own book for half an hour and look through it and think about the choices I made back then. Some days I look at the book and think 'what was I doing?!' but today was not one of those days...today I thought 'do you know...it's not the way everyone would do it but it's my way and I'm proud of it'. Who knows how I'll feel tomorrow...I believe it was your countryman Ronan Keating who once sang the truth...that 'life is a rollercoaster'. Oh my G/god!

Yes - a hugely successful radio project, that. It was really different - I liked it.Hall and I were at uni at the same time (had some mutual friends) so you're not the only one to be whitewashed by contemporaries, Ken. Good job we're not bitter.